Japan

Japan produces two of the world's most closely studied beverage categories: single malt and blended Japanese whisky, alongside junmai daiginjo sake made from highly polished rice. Japanese whisky draws on Scottish distilling traditions adapted to local climate conditions, with Yamazaki - Japan's oldest malt distillery, founded in 1923 - setting a benchmark for the category, and Hibiki Harmony representing Suntory's blending craft across multiple distilleries. Nikka contributes both grain-forward and malt-driven expressions through its Coffey still program. On the sake side, Dassai's lineup illustrates how rice polishing ratios shape character: the 23 designation indicates just 23 percent of each grain remains, yielding exceptional refinement, while the 39 and 45 expressions offer progressively broader texture. Together these producers span a range from accessible everyday pours to age-worthy collector releases.